Tractor



March 17, 1936. H. s. EBERHARD TRACTOR FiledlMarch 2o, 193s lINI/Eivzrolc HARnoN 5. EBERHARD.

Troma(` Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED .STATES TRACTOR Harmon S. E Caterpillar corporation of='Califor Application March 2o,

9 Claims;

The present invention relates totractors, and more particularly to the provision of improved suspension means for the main frame of a tracktype tractor. l

It is an object of the silient berhard,

sembly and economical manufacture.

Another obj ec means thereto.

Another object resilient equalizin of the invention is to provide g means for supporting a tractor main frame on a pair of endless track mechanisms, including a main equalizer bar and an auxiliary equalizer bar, said bars being connected to integral portions of the main frame.

Another ob the invention isk to provide resilient equalizing m tor sms, said equalizing means having connections With said main frame Aconsisting of substantially vertically aligned elements.

The track-t K smitting the The tractor is Tractor Co.,

invention to provide reof the invention is to provide Peoria, Ill., assigner to San Leandro, Calif.2 ania v 1933, Serial No. 661,6 (c1. 305-9) propelled over the sprocke rier rollers, and front 5 track roller frames.

(Fig. 2) comprising crankcase IllV and transmission" case II,- detachably connected-at I2; is suppQrtedfon track roller Stub shaft .'I 6,]mount track car idler-Wheels on the Themain frame mellltothe 3. The; spaced pivotal conrnain frame at- 22, 2

' 'nta'in the .endless track catedjg y and described more s'pecicallyhereinafter. The endless tracks pass over final drive sprockets 26, 21, mounted on transmission case II at the rear of respective track roller` frames I3, I4, and front idler wheels 28, 29,-mounted in 25 the front ends of said frames I 3, I 4. Said tracks are indicated generally at 3| in Fig. 1, and the Weight'of-the tractor'is transmitted to the ground stretches thereof byv track rollers 32 mounted on said `frames I3, I4', the "upper stretches of said 30 ftracks 3I beingsupported by track. carrier rollers 33 "on'said 'frames'` I3, It.

The resilient equalizng means, or equalizer bar suspension, for supportin gthe front end lof the 40 er frames comprises said main spr'in said main spri g, and said auxiliary ng have'inter-engagi spring and ng portions which permit relative rocking movement while restraining relative lateral or endwise movement.

Main equalizer spring or bar 5| (Fig. 1) cornprises a plurality of spring leaves secured together by outer clips 52, central clips 53, and bolt 54. The right end of said spring 5|, as viewed in Fig. 1, rests on tapered plate 55, within U-shaped guide 56 bolted on track roller frame I4 within yoke 58, which is slidably mounted at 59 on said frame I4 for supportingV front idler 29. Said yoke 58 is provided with integral stop 60 above spring 5I for limiting relative vertical movement of said spring and said frame I4. The left end of spring 5| is supported similarly within U- shaped guide 6|, on track roller frame I3 within yoke B2, having stop 63, similar to stop 60. Thus the ends of the main equalizer bar are supported on the track roller frames, for free lateral move'- ment and restricted vertical movement, .the guides preventing movement of said spring ends longitudinally of said track roller frames.

Crankcase I0 has arcuate bottom wall 66 resting on spring 5|, and having spaced recesses 61 formed therein to receive the heads of clips 53 and bolt 54. The arcuate contour of wall 66 provides for relative rocking movement of the main frame on the main equalizer bar, while the inter-engagement `of the wall with said clips and said bolt prevents relativev lateral or endwise movement therebetween.

Auxiliary equalizer spring or bar 1l comprises a plurality of spring leaves secured together by outer clips 12 and inner clips 13. The ends of said auxiliary spring 1| are connected by pairs of shackles 14 pivoted thereto and to bolts 16 secured in vertically apertured, laterally projecting bosses 11 integral with crankcase I0. Opposite shackles 'I4 of each pair are placed on either side of main spring 5|, pins 18 therein limiting relative rockingvmovement between said main spring and said crankcase. It is to be noted that each pair of shackles 14 and bolt 16 associated therewith are in substantial vertical alignment.

The above described connections from the crankcase to the ends of the auxiliary equalizer spring hold the central upper part thereof in engagement with the arcuate bottom surface of plate 8| to which the ends of clips 53 are secured. Said bottom surface-is recessed as at 82 to receive the heads of clips 13. Thus auxiliary -equalizer spring 1| and main equalizer spring 5| have a limited relative rocking movement, relative lateral or endwise movement therebetween being prevented by the interengagement of plate 8| and the heads of clips 13. From the foregoing it is seen that the auxiliary equalizer spring, or bar not only serves to maintain engagement between the main equalizer spring orv bar and the main frame, but also serves to limit relative rocking movement therebetween.

It is to be noted that the above described resilient equalizing means consists of a small number of parts of simple design, providing a sturdy and reliable connection between said means, the crankcase or main fra-me, and the tracl: roller frames. It is also to be noted that both equalizer springs are connected directly to, or contact integral parts of the crankcase, which comprises a. one-piece casting. VThe casting requires no drilled holes other than those in bosses 11 which are located in the most advantageous position to obtain econo-my of manufacture. In assembling the tractor main frame and the equalizer springs, it is only necessaryto lower the crankcase portion position on the main equalizer spring, the nuts 5 for the bolts 16 may be readily placed thereon and tightened as desired. It is thus seen that ease of assembly or disassembly of the main frame .and the equalizer structure is provided by the provision of upright members 18 which can 1o be positioned or be removed from the upright apertures in bosses 11, solely by virtue of relative vertical displacement.

I, therefore, claim as my invention:

1. In a. track-type tractor, a main frame com.- l5

prising a casing, a pair of endless track mechanisms including track roller frames, aligned pivotal connections between said main frame and sai-d track roller lframes, and resilient equalizing means for supporting said main frame on said 20 track roller frames, comprising a main equalizer bar having its ends resting on said track roller frames at points spaced from said pivotal connections, said casing having an arcuate bottom wall resting on said main equalizer bar centrally thereof, said Wall and said bar having interengaging portions, an auxiliary equalizer bar in vertical tandem relation with said main equalizer bar, integral verticallyapertured bosses on said casing, and meansconnecting the ends of said auxiliary equalizer bar to said bosses, each connecting means ycomprising a pair of shackles and a bolt in substantial vertical alignment, the central portion of s-aid auxiliary bar engaging an arcuate surface on said main bar, said portion l and said surface having interengaging portions.

2. In a track-type tractor, a main frame comprising a casing, a pair of endless track mechanisms including track roller frames, aligned pivotal connections between said main frame and 4o said track roller frames, and resilient equalizing means for supporting said main frame on said track roller frames, comprising a resilient member having its ends supported by said track roller frames' at pointsv spaced from said pivotal con- 45 nections, a second resilient member disposed beneath said first member and connected thereto for relative rocking movement, and connecting means from the ends of said second member to said casing. each connecting means comprising a laterally projecting, vertically apertured boss on said casing, a bolt in said boss, and shackles pivotally connected to said bolt and the end of/ said second member.

3. The combination with the main frame of a tractor and a pair of track roller frames pivotally connected thereto, said frame including a crankcase, said crankcase comprising a one-piece casting forming the crankcase of the tractor engine, said casting having an arcuate bottom wall with spaced recesses formed therein, and integral vertically laterally from said casting; of means for supporting said main frame on said track roller frames at points spaced from the pivotal connections therebetween, including a main equalizer bar supporting said casting, said bar having its ends movably supported by said track roller frames, and having portions engaging said recesses in said bottom wall, an auxiliary equalizer bar for maintaining engagement between said main bar and said casting, and connections between said auxiliary bar and said bosses.`

4. The combination with the main frame of a tractor and a pair of track roller frames pivotally apertured bosses projecting CII connected thereto, said frame including a casing, of means for supporting said main frame on said track roller frames at points spaced from the pivotal connections therebetween, comprising a main equalizer bar supporting said casing and having its ends movably mounted on said track roller frames, and an auxiliary equalizer bar for maintaining engagement between said main bar and said casingwhile providing for relative rocking movement therebetween, said auxiliary bar having its ends connected to integral lateral projections on said casing by means consisting of members in substantial vertical alignment.

5. The combination with the main frame of a track-type tractor, and track roller frames having aligned pivotal connections with said main frame, of means for supporting said main frame on said track roller frames at points spaced from said pivotal connections, comprising a main equalizer bar on which said main frame rests and having its ends supported on said track roller frames, an auxiliary equalizer bar engaging said main bar to maintain engagement thereof with saidmain frame, vertically apertured, opposite means projecting laterally from the sides of said main frame, and connections from the ends of said auxiliary bar to said opposite means.

6. The combination with the main frame of a track-type tractor, and track roller frames having aligned pivotal connections with said main frame, of means for supporting said main frame on said track roller frames atV points spaced from said pivotal connections, comprising a main equalizer bar on which said main frame rests and having its ends supported on said track roller frames, an auxiliary equalizer bar engaging'said main bar to maintain engagement thereof with said main frame, vertically apertured, opposite bosses projecting laterally from the sides of said main frame, and connections from the ends of said auxiliary bar to said opposite bosses, each connection consisting of a bolt in the associated boss, and shackles connecting said bolt and the associated end of said auxiliary bar.

7. In a track-type tractor, a main frame,

ground-engaging mechanism at each side of said main frame and connected thereto for relative movement, an equalizing member extending transversely with respect to said main frame and support-ed by said ground-engaging mechanisms to control movement thereof, said equalizing member providing a support for said main frame, auxiliary equalizing means below said equalizing member; and means for connecting said auxiliary equalizing means to said main frame upon relative vertical displacement therebetween, including upright pins insertable in said main frame, and links movably connected to said auxiliary equalizing means and to said pins.

8. In a vehicle, a main frame, ground-engaging mechanism at each side of said main frame and extending longitudinally thereof, connections between said mechanisms and said main frame providing for relative movement therebetween, an equalizing member extending transversely of said frame and supported by said mechanisms to control movement thereof, said equalizing member providing a support for said frame, auxiliary equalizing means below saidequalizing member; and means for connecting said auxiliary equalizing means to said main frame, comprising upright pins mounted on said main frame, and links movably connected to said auxiliary equalizing means and to said pins.

9. In a track-type tractor; a main frame; ground-engaging mechanism at each side of said main frame and connected theretor for relative movement; an equalizing member extending transversely with respect to said main frame and supported by said ground-engaging mechanismsto control movement thereof, said equalizing member providing a support for said main frame; auxiliary equalizing means adjacent said equalizing member; and connections from said auxiliary 

